McClintock Donating 2009 Winnings to Ronald McDonald House

Topics:  Tom McClintock

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
June 8, 2009

Fort Atkinson, Wis. (June 8, 2009) – A proposition is drafted, a presentation is made, and a sponsorship is obtained. At that point, any racer can take a deep breath and give a sigh of relief. It is a load off his or her shoulders. Thanks to the sponsorship income, which will be supplemented by race day winnings during the season, racing is possible in a tough economy.

As this is the story for so many Mid-American Stock Car Series competitors (and racers around the country, for that matter), it is not the case for Tom McClintock. The veteran short-tracker from Onalaska, Wis, will donate all his winnings to one of his primary sponsors, Ronald McDonald House, in 2009.

McClintock has been sponsored by McDonald’s for 10 years. It is time to give something back, he said. “I don't see it as racing for free, I see it as raising funds and awareness for a very worthy cause,” said McClintock.

The primary motivation for McClintock and his team comes from their visits to Ronald McDonald houses. He cites anyone who has visited or will visit a Ronald McDonald House will quickly understand why he and his team made the decision they did.

Originally, McClintock proposed donating half his winnings to Ronald McDonald House and the other half to the MASCS point fund. In early January, the plan was shape-shifted at the Rockford auction with a proposition by another Mid-American competitor, Brian Back, to allow McClintock to donate all his winnings to Ronald McDonald House. The Mid-American competitors on hand overwhelmingly supported the decision.

In exchange for his fundraising efforts this season, McClintock was given the green light by MASCS officials to test the experimental DCA chassis.

A standard Mid-American stock car is built on a used 108 inch metric frame manufactured by General Motors between the years of 1978 and 1988. A DCA chassis is a manufactured version of the same product that has never hit the streets.

Given a chance to be the “guinea pig” for the DCA chassis, McClintock sung the praises of the new concept in March. “[Dan Navrestad, owner of DCA] has a great idea here. One that I feel promotes a higher level of safety, and provides an eventual answer to what will be a need, as stock chassis’ are going to be harder and harder to find,” stated McClintock.

Through two races with the new chassis, McClintock has notched two top five finishes. He scored a fourth place finish in the Central Wisconsin 40 at Golden Sands Speedway and a third place finish in the Dells Duel Part One at Dells Raceway Park. As part of the agreement, McClintock will not be eligible for Mid-American member points this season.

Nevertheless, McClintock could not be happier with his decision. The car is much easier to work on, but still presents the challenges of a normal Mid-American stock car, McClintock said. Safety standards also appear much better in the earlier stages, as components of the old chassis seemed to be coming loose on a more frequent than normal basis. “We did have a couple of loose bolts after the first two races, but much more normal from a racing standpoint,” explained McClintock.

An ability to run up front again has also been a positive for McClintock. The 2006 United States Super Truck champion says that wins are his goal and that he could not be happier than to be able to contend for wins once again after struggling with an older chassis which had the wear and tear of several MASCS seasons.

McClintock has already collected over $600 to donate and, after missing the next two races due to a busy non-racing schedule, will continue to add to the pot at Dells Raceway Park on Saturday, July 25 in Dells Duel Part Two.

Although McClintock will not be present, a strong contingent of Mid-American Stock Car Series competitors will convene at Norway Speedway in Norway Mich, on Friday, June 26 and at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wis, for the Vercauteren Memorial on Saturday, June 27.

Norway Speedway is located on the Dickinson County Fairgrounds on Highway 8, approximately one mile east of the Wisconsin/Northern Michigan border. For more information please visit www.norwayspeedway.com.

141 Speedway is located on Highway R just north of Francis Creek, Wis. For more information please visit www.141speedway.com.

For more information about the Mid-American Stock Car Series, including results, the current 2009 standings, the 2009 schedule and driver information please visit www.midamericanracing.com.